Ministerial Statement

AVG Detection in the South-East

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:21): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement on the topic of AVG detected in the South-East.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: On 21 February 2024, a commercial abalone fisher reported dead and dying abalone at Breaksea reef, offshore from Port MacDonnell. Using PCR testing, samples from the mortality site were confirmed to have tested positive for the virus that causes abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG).

Abalone herpesvirus (Haliotid herpesvirus-1), the disease that causes AVG, is a notifiable disease under the Livestock Act 1997. It affects the nervous system of abalone, causing weakness and eventually death. There are no human health concerns associated with AVG. The disease is known to occur elsewhere in Australia, including in Victoria and Tasmania. It has not been detected in South Australian waters previously.

Once the presence of AVG was confirmed, PIRSA activated an incident management team (IMT) and initial measures to control the spread were put in place. Two notices were published on 23 February, the day AVG was confirmed: one under section 79 of the Fisheries Management Act 2007 and one under section 33 of the Livestock Act 1997.

A control area was enacted that covered the southern abalone zone, spanning the coastline from Nene Valley in the west to the South Australian-Victorian border in the east, extending approximately five nautical miles (or about 10 kilometres) out to sea. With assistance from the commercial abalone industry, PIRSA undertook surveillance within the control area to understand the extent of the presence of the virus. That surveillance found the virus was present at four out of five sites, including near the western boundary of the control area.

As a result, from today (5 March) the control zone has now been extended from the South Australian-Victorian border to Southend. Within the control zone, fishing activities are now permitted with the current restrictions:

no abalone, rock lobster or spear fishing;

no reef diving;

no use of anchors; and

anything permitted to be taken from the area (water or beach) cannot be returned to state waters (including for use as bait).

Also, from today, to assist with surveillance and help limit the spread of AVG, an additional buffer zone has been created that extends from Southend to the Murray Mouth, extending five nautical miles out to sea. Within the buffer zone, all fishing activities are permitted, with the following requirements:

fishing and diving equipment must be decontaminated following PIRSA guidelines;

anchors must be cleaned when raised; and

any catch can be consumed, disposed of on land, or returned to the buffer zone.

Failure to comply with control area or buffer zone restrictions may result in fines.

PIRSA is planning further surveillance in the remainder of the southern zone to determine the extent of the spread of the virus, to inform decisions around the future management of the virus. The detection of AVG has impacted upon the southern zone rock lobster fishery, with fishing activities halted within the control area. PIRSA continues to work with the Southern Rock Lobster Advisory Council and its members on appropriate measures to minimise the impact on the fishery and limit the spread of AVG through fishing activity. PIRSA has led an abalone industry meeting on 26 February 2024 and held rock lobster industry and public meetings in Port MacDonnell on 1 March 2024.

The SA abalone sector generated $35 million in 2022-23 and is an important part of the state's estimated $448 million seafood industry. It is critical that our local aquaculture and fishing industries are protected from the further spread of AVG by adhering to the measures that are now in place. For the most up-to-date information on AVG, including information about permitted recreation fishing activities, collection of recreational rock lobster pots, restrictions and closure areas, please visit the PIRSA website.